Snow fence



Jly 23,1929. QCABBE 1,721,394

SNOW FENCE Filed e 192v Wyn roe Airy/Mays,

Patented July 23, 1929.

UNITED ROAD MACHINERY COMPANY, OF KENNETT SQUARE, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORA- TION OF DELAWARE.

more particularly to improved means for supporting snow fences.

Snow fences, as is well known, are used for prevent-ing snow from drifting and more especially from drifting on roads or filling up cuts through which roads pass. Snow fences also find use in preventing snow from drifting against buildings or, in fact, under any conditions where it is desired to avoid drifts.

Snow fences generally are of two types, one of which is constructed to remain permanently in place, such as'are erected by railroads to prevent driftin on the tracks, and the other of which is esigned to be portable so that it may be erected where and when desired. The portable type of snow fence may, for example, be readily erected, for the protection of roads, buildings, etc.', in the fall or early Winter and removed in the spring so that it does not occupy land during the seasons when the land is desired for use. 7

The portable type of snow fence has not heretofore been entirely satisfactory, since it has been so supported and so connected to its supports that when subjected to the force of the wind, it tends to break or to break its supports.

Now in accordance with my invention I provide novel means for supporting snow fences whereby adequate support will be provided and, at the same time, damage to the fence and its supports will be prevented. More particularly, in accordance with 'my invention, I provide means for supporting snow fences so arranged that the main body of the fence will be free to move under the influence of the wind independent of its sup ports, thereby relieving the supports from strain due to wind pressure and further so arranged that the connecting means between the body of the fence and the supports, will not be subjected to wear from the movement of the body of the fence.

Having now indicated, in a general way, the nature and purpose of my invention, I will proceed to a detailed description thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings in which there is illustrated a preferred'embodiment and in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a snow fence embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a view showing modified conne0t- Application filedz June 2,

snow rnivcn.

1927. Serial No. 195,885.

ing means between the body of the fence and the supports.

Figs. 3 and 4 are views showing modified forms of supports for snow fences'embodv ing my invention.

Thebody of the fence is composed of vertical slats a secured in spaced relation by means of binding wires b.- The'body of the fence FFlfCE,

GEORGE c; ABBE, or KnNNnT'r SQUARE, PENNSYLVANIA, Assrenon To AMERICAN may be of ordinary garden fence construetion and the slats may, obviously, be held in spaced relation by means of horizontal strips, to which the slatsfare'secured, instead of by wires, as shown. It is only advisable that the body of the fence be of slatted construction in order topresenta'minimumsurface to the Wind. Y

The supports comprise a post member 0, the lower end of which is extended into the ground at an angle, anda brace member 03 pivotally connected to the post 0 and the lower end of which extends into the ground. The post 0 is adapted to extend at an agle t0 the surface of the ground, as shown in Fig. 1.

For the support of a length of fence, support members are placed at intervals and a Wire 6 extended between the end supports.

The wire is supported by each support through engagement with a hook f secured to each of the posts 0 adjacent its upper end. The fence body is secured to the wire 6 by means of connecting wires 9, of varying length and which are secured to the upper binding wires 6.

The wire 0 and the connecting wires 7 form a catenary suspension for the body of the fence, which, as will now be observed, is free to swing relative to the supports and the swinging of which will not cause wear on the catenary suspension. As will be observed, due to the angular extension of the posts 0 the body of the fence will not be forced against the posts by the wind, since the fence will spill the wind or the major force thereof when swungto an angle of that of the posts.

As shown in Fig. 2, if desired, the body of the fence may be connected directly to the supports through the medium of suspension wires h aflordinga direct connection between each of the posts 0 and the upper binding wires 6 of the fence body.

As shown in Fig. 3, if desired, the body of the fence may be connected by suspension v with my invention the support to which the fence body is connected will extend at an ana gle to the yertical, but that such support may be in turn supported from the ground through the med um of a vertlcal-supporhas shown in I Figs. 3 and4.

Having noW fully described my invention What I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is 1. Ina sno w fence, in combination, a fence panel comprising vertical and longitudinal members, aplurality of spaced supports extending at an angle to the vertical and a catenary suspension between the supports and the panel whereby the panel is sivingably supported 2. In a snow fence, in combination, a fence panel comprisingv vertical and longitudinal members, a plurality of spaced supports extending at an angle to the vertical, a flexible member strung on the supports and a plural ity of connecting members of varying length secured at intervals to said flexible member and to one of the longitudinal members of said panel whereby said panel Will be swing,- a-bly supported.

8. In a snow fence, in combination, a fence panel comprising slats and binding Wires, a plurality of spaced supports extending at an angle to the vertical, a Wirestrun g on the supports'and a plurality of ires of varying length secured at intervalsto said first men tioned ire and to one-.ofthe binding wires of said panel whereby said panel Will be swingably supported.

4. In a snow fence, in combination, a fence paneljresistant to bending about a horizontal line, a support extending at an angle to the vertical, and means afford-inga connectionbet-Ween said support and panel whereby said panel is supported free to swing horizontally In testimony of Which invention, I have hereunto set my hand, at Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, on this 31st day of May, 1927.

, GEORGE O. ABBE, 

